Cape Winelands
Constantia · Stellenbosch · Helshoogte and Franschhoek
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Photo: Martinvl · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Groot Constantia
ConstantiaSouth Africa’s oldest wine farm, from 1685
Simon van der Stel, governor of the Cape, founded it in 1685, and it is the country’s oldest wine farm. It is now a provincial heritage site and a living museum: the manor house, the wine museum and the Cloete Cellar, birthplace of its sweet wine, Grand Constance.
- Address
- Constantia, Cape Town
- Phone
- +27 21 794 5128
- enquiries@grootconstantia.co.za
- Visits
- Every day: a tasting of five wines of your choice, access to the manor house and Cloete Cellar, and a guided or self-guided cellar tour, hourly from 10 am to 4 pm
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Photo: KC1685 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
Klein Constantia
ConstantiaThe home of Vin de Constance
In the heart of the Constantia Valley, it is the home of Vin de Constance, the area’s historic sweet wine. All its wines are grown, made and bottled on the estate, and its tasting room offers anything from a taste of the estate range to a vertical tasting of three vintages of Vin de Constance.
- Address
- At the end of Klein Constantia Road, Constantia, Cape Town
- Phone
- +27 21 794 5188
- info@kleinconstantia.com
- Visits
- Every day, 10 am to 5 pm (last tasting an hour before), booking essential: estate tasting of 45 to 60 minutes, R300 per person
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Photo: Raymond Ellis · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 (cropped)
Spier
StellenboschOne of the oldest farms, from 1692
Founded in 1692, it is one of South Africa’s oldest working wine farms. The Enthoven family bought it in 1993 and runs it with regenerative practices. Tastings are indoors among local art or on the terrace with mountain views, and the farm also has a food garden, restaurants and a hotel.
- Address
- R310, Stellenbosch
- Phone
- +27 21 809 1143 (tastings and shop)
- info@spier.co.za
- Visits
- Guided tastings from R105 per person, booked online; wine and chocolate tasting too
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Illustrative photo: Matthias Bethke · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (not of the winery)
Jordan Wine Estate
StellenboschTastings by the dam, in Stellenbosch Kloof
A family estate in Stellenbosch Kloof, about 15 minutes from Stellenbosch and 25 from Cape Town airport. Its vineyards climb slopes of different aspects and altitudes, cooled by the ocean breeze. Tastings are held in the shade of the trees by the dam, looking out to the Stellenbosch mountains, and there are vineyard and cellar tours.
- Address
- Stellenbosch Kloof Road, Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
- Phone
- +27 21 881 3441
- reservations@jordanwines.com
- Visits
- Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 4:30 pm, bookings essential. Cellar tours at 11 am or 3 pm, vineyard tours at 10 am or 2 pm
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Photo: South African Tourism · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
Delaire Graff Estate
Helshoogte and FranschhoekWine, art and Simonsberg views
High on the Helshoogte Pass between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, its art-filled Wine Lounge looks out to Simonsberg Mountain: on the terrace in summer, by the fire in winter. Afterwards you can wander the gardens, with sculptures from Laurence Graff’s personal collection.
- Address
- Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch
- Phone
- +27 21 885 8160
- info@delaire.co.za
- Visits
- Wine Lounge tastings with no reservations, first come first served: from R155 for three wines. The gardens are open daily
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Photo: DocDaysleeper · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
Boschendal
Helshoogte and FranschhoekOver 340 years in the Franschhoek valley
With more than 340 years of history, it is a 1,900-hectare farm at the foot of the mountains on the way to Franschhoek. Tastings are held in two places, the Cellar Door and the Manor House, with cheese, charcuterie and chocolate pairings, and the estate also has farm-to-table restaurants, horse riding and trails.
- Address
- Groot Drakenstein, between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
- Phone
- +27 21 870 4265 (reservations)
- reservations@boschendal.co.za
- Visits
- Tastings every day, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with advance booking and payment (walk-ins subject to availability)
Some photos show the area, not the winery itself: each photo’s credit is on the winery’s card.
If you're tasting, don't drive: book a transfer or a driver.
Photo of South Africa: Matthias Bethke · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0